Answer Priest

Ladies of the Lord -- February 10, 2011

Messianic Secret

A followup to last week's program--May 24th.

Jason from Los Angeles: "Thank you very much for answering my question about why Jesus told people not to identify Him as 'the Christ.' Your answer has helped me better understand Christ's mission and the Messianic Secret. Could more people have followed Jesus or more souls have been saved if Jesus had allowed His disciples to preach that He was the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God?"

Intinction

Patricia from Facebook (May 31): I especially loved to receive by intinction. Can it only to be done by the priest? Why don't they bring back the "paten" to be used with receiving?

Confession

My husband doesn't believe in Confession! He says he does not have to confess his sins to another man and that he can still be Catholic despite rejecting the validity and necessity of this sacrament. How can I defend the Church's teaching?

Purgatory

I am Catholic but I do not believe in Purgatory. How do we know it really exists? It seems to be just a Catholic thing.
Is the Catholic church unique regard belief in Purgatory?
What is the difference between a Plenary indulgence and a Partial indulgence? When did these first come about in the Catholic church?
What, if anything, has changed regarding the church teaching on Limbo?

Liturgical Norms

Can a Mass be said for someone who is not Catholic?
When and why should Catholics genuflect?
Why does the priest kiss the altar?
Why do we make the sign of the cross on our forehead, lips and mouth at the beginning of the gospel reading?
Why do we bow during the Nicene Creed at the words, "By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man"?
Why are bells sometimes rung at Mass? Why do some parishes ring bells but others don't?
What prayers or actions are appropriate when the Host and the Chalice are elevated?
Should parishioners bow or genuflect when receiving Communion?
Is it ever inappropriate to take the blessed Host into our hand?
Does the church forbid dipping the blessed Host into the blessed Wine? If so, why?
Why it is inappropriate for Catholics to receive Communion in non-Catholic churches and for non-Catholics to receive communion in the Catholic church?

Coping with Others' Sins and Shortcomings

The comment: I've been hearing too much backbiting about priests lately. The things being said may often be true, but the value of obedience is being ignored. Instead of complaining about their faults, we should instead think about how much grace God can pour out on our priests and on us when we submit to God's authority in the Church. I see this with so many wives, too, who know the "right" thing to do in their families, and so they trample their husband's role as head of the household. God has shown me in many instances how grace flows when we are obedient, and we prayer warriors need to be at FULL POWER these days!
The question: What is the right way for us to act when we see sins and shortcomings in others?

Detachment from sick and sinful behavior

What do you do if you have very dysfunctional family members who steal your peace and joy on every occasion no matter what you do? I do pray for them but I feel I can no longer be with them because of the dark places take send me.

Saints

Why did Pope John Paul II pronounce so many saints for this time.
Was John Paul II a mystic?
Why have some of the bodies of the saints been found to be incorrupt? What does the fact that their bodies have not decayed mean?
1 Timothy 2:5 says that Jesus is the one and only mediator between God and Man. Does the Catholic devotion to the saints violate this norm?

Divine Mercy

Could you explain Divine Mercy and the importance of it? In St. Faustina's Diary it says the spark that will ignite the world will come from Poland. Do you think that spark is referring to Pope John Paul II, St. Faustina, or the work of Divine Mercy?

Mary and the Joys of Heaven

Mary has appeared often in recent centuries and in some apparitions has been reported as weeping. Does our Lady now enjoy the happiness of heaven?

Angelology

Can you explain what Angels are and comment on their importance to us?
Can some people really 'see' angels?
If someone claims to receive a message from one of these messengers, how do we know if the message is from God?

New Age Religions

What are the New Age Religions all about? How should we react to them?
Are the Harry Potter books and movies evil?
What about yoga?
What about Reiki?

Holy Orders

We never hear of any priest being made a Monsignor lately.
- What is the status of this honorary title?
- What was the special designation that Msgr. Rupert received last year?
Do you go from being a priest to being a Bishop?
Is our Bishop retiring?

Signs of the Times

Are the dead birds, fish kills, massive floods, frequent earthquakes and an increase of man's inhumanity to man warnings of the End Times or some other earthshaking event?
What are the "End Times" and the Rapture? How will it take place? Don't Protestants and Catholics have different views of "the Rapture"?
Some scholars say that after the Second coming, Jesus will reign for 1000 years, but then Satan will be released from hell and will have power over the world again. Why would God allow this and for how long?
Is suffering given to us by the Lord, the Devil or both and how are we to recognize the difference?
What does Fr. Marty think is the greatest crisis in the Church and what are each of us called to do to help overcome it?